ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Women and Child Development
WCD Minister asks for immediate action in Sexual Harassment Case in Air India
Air Hostess, who is working with Air India met Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister for Women and Child Development regarding her complaint under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace  Act 2013. The Minister has taken up the matter with Minister for Civil Aviation. The Minister has also spoken to the head of the Internal Complaints Committee of Air India and has directed her to complete the inquiry within June, 2018.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs 
Cabinet allows export of all varieties of pulses
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for removal of prohibition on export of all types of pulses to ensure that farmers have greater choice in marketing their produce and in getting better remuneration for their produce.
The CCEA also empowered the Committee chaired by Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution  and comprising Secretaries of Department of Commerce , Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare , Department of Revenue , Department of Consumer Affairs  and Directorate General of Foreign Trade  to review the export/import policy on pulses and consider measures such as quantitative restrictions, prior registration and changes in import duties depending on domestic production and demand, domestic and international prices and international trade volumes.
Opening of export of all types of pulses will help the farmer to dispose off their products at remunerative prices and also encourage them to expand the area of sowing. Export of pulses would provide an alternative market for the surplus production of pulses. Allowing export of pulses will also help the country and its exporters to regain their markets.
It is expected that pulses production will be sustained in the country and our import dependence on pulses will come down substantially. This is also likely to provide higher levels of protein to the population and work towards nutritional security. The integration with global supply chain is also likely to help our farmers in adopting good agricultural practices and better productivity.
In 2016-17 production year, the Indian farmers have lived up to the challenge of reducing India's import dependence on pulses and have produced 23 million tons of pulses. The Government has taken a number of steps to sustain the high pulses production by our farmers. The Government has procured 20 lakh tons of pulses by ensuring minimum support price or market rates, whichever is higher, directly from the farmers and this has been the highest ever procurement of pulses.
Background:
The production of pulses in 2016-17 has been very encouraging and is the highest ever till date. Government has supported the farmers by providing attractive Minimum Support Price  for the pulses and public procurement of pulses to the tune of 20 lakh tonnes. The domestic production of pulses during 2016-17 was 22.95 million tonnes. The Chana Dal  production was 9.33 million tonnes as compared to 7.06 million tonnes in 2015-16 showing a growth of 32%. The production of other rabi pulses  etc.) for 2016-17 was 3.02 million tonnes as compared to 2.47 million tonnes in 2015-16 showing a growth of 22%. For the year 2017-18, the Government has fixed a target of 22.90 million tonnes of pulses production.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
NSNIS Patiala announces relaxation in admission criteria of coaching course to allow more eminent athletes to apply
In a first-time endeavour, 46 eminent athletes, men and women, will get direct admission to the flagship Diploma Course in Sports Coaching at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports  in Patiala, from the session of 2020-21 onwards. This decision was announced by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri. Kiren Rijiju in May. Now, with an effort to ensure larger participation from eminent athletes in the course, it has been decided to relax a few of the admission criteria earlier stated.
While the educational qualification from entry to the course remains 10+2 for all eminent athletes, changes have been brought about in the sports achievements criteria so as to allow more Asian and Commonwealth medallists and participants of Senior World Championships to enroll for the course. Earlier, it was mandatory for an applicant to have won a medal in the Senior World Championship, however, in the new criteria athletes who have participated in the event are also eligible to apply. The criteria of winning a Gold medal in the Asian or Commonwealth Games has been replaced by winning a medal - gold, silver or bronze - in either of the events. Elite athletes who have participated in Olympics are automatically qualified to apply for the course.
Speaking about the decision, Sandip Pradhan, Director General, Sports Authority of India, said, "The inclusion of eminent Indian athletes in the coaching profession is important since there is a growing need to cater to the evolving needs of the growing sports ecosystem of India and to attract the best available talent in the country. The relaxation in admission criteria for elite athletes will ensure that a larger number of them find themselves eligible to apply for this course."
46 eminent athletes will be chosen for 23 sports , and they will not have to appear for the entrance exam, which has been made online for the first-ever time in the history of the course. All eminent athletes, who are shortlisted for the course directly will however have to take the medical and physical tests alongside other candidates.
In case of two eminent athletes applying from the same discipline, a point-system has been put in place to identify the final candidate.
In view of the relaxation in the criteria for eminent athletes, it has also been decided to extend the last date of submission of online application for enrolment to the course to July 31.
For other candidates, other than eminent athletes, it has been decided that in keeping with the current situation of the Corona pandemic candidates who are awaiting final year results of graduation level-degree courses or if universities that they are enrolled in are yet to conduct final examination of the graduation-level degree courses can also apply online for the admission to diploma course but have to produce the final year passing certificate by September 30, 2020.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India's Total Recoveries cross the landmark milestone of 60 lakh
Less than 1000 deaths recorded for 8 consecutive days
Five top States with maximum caseload contribute more than half of Total Recoveries
India has scaled another peak today. The total recoveries have crossed the landmark milestone of 60 lakh .
With a very high number of COVID patients recovering every day, India’s steady trend of posting high level of daily recoveries continues. 89,154 recoveries have been registered in the last 24 hours in the country.
Enhanced countrywide medical infrastructure, implementation of the Centre’s Standard Treatment Protocol by the States/UTs, and total dedication & commitment of doctors, paramedics and frontline workers have led to a consistent slide in the number of daily fatalities and a persistent increase in the number of total recoveries.
For the last eight consecutive days, new deaths recorded are less than 1000. 918 deaths were recorded in last 24 hours in the country.
The total active cases in India stand at 8,67,496. The active cases have sustained on the downslide and are less than 8 lakhs since the last three days.
The national Recovery Rate has further increased to 86.17%.
With increasing recoveries, India has sustained its leading global position with the maximum recovered cases.
The five top States with the maximum caseload  are also contributing more than half  of the Total Recoveries.
80% of the new recovered cases are being reported from ten States, viz. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Delhi and Chhattisgarh.
Maharashtra leads the tally with more than 26,000 new cases of recovered patients.
74,383 new confirmed cases have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country.
80% of the new cases are concentrated in ten States/UT. Kerala has reported the maximum number of new cases, followed by Maharashtra. Both have contributed more than 11,000 to the new cases.
918 fatalities have been registered in the past 24 hours. 84% of these are reported from 10 States and UTs.
With 308 deaths, Maharashtra accounts for 33% of deaths reported yesterday, followed by Karnataka with 102 deaths.
Special Service and Features
TWO YEARS RIGOROUS IMPRISONMENT TO THEN DGM & THEN AGM, BOTH OF INDIAN BANK AND THEN JOINT MD OF A PRIVATE COMPANY IN A BANK FRAUD CASE; FINE OF Rs. 13.10 LAKH IMPOSED ON ACCUSED
The Special Judge, Chennai  has sentenced Sh. B. Muthaiah, then Chief Manager, Indian Bank, Thousand Lights Branch, Chennai to undergo 2 years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs. 70000/-; Sh. M. Azeez, then AGM, Indian Bank, Thousand Lights Branch, Chennai to undergo 2 years RI with fine of Rs. 50,000/- and Sh. A. Manohar Prasad, then Joint MD of M/s Gemini Pictures Cicuit Private Ltd. Virugambakkam, Chennai to undergo 2 years RI with fine of Rs. 90,000/- in a bank fraud case. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs. Nine Lakh to M/s Gemini Pictures Circuit Pvt. Ltd., Virugambakkam, Chennai and Rs. Two Lakh to M/s Asian Photo Films Pvt. Ltd., Mylapore, Chennai.
CBI had registered a case on 27.06.1998 against the accused on a complaint from Indian Bank. It was alleged that Sh. M. Gopalakrishnan, Chairman & MD, Indian Bank, Chennai; Sh.A. V. Shanmugasundaram, DGM , Indian Bank, Zonal Office, Chennai; Sh. B. Muthaiah, Chief Manager, Indian Bank, Thousand lights Branch, Chennai and Sh. M. Azeezthen AGM, Indian Bank Thousand Lights Branch, hatched a conspiracy with other accused including private persons. It was further alleged that the accused submitted false & forged documents, availed loan and failed to repay the loan amount. A loss to the tune of Rs. 8.35 Crore was caused to Indian Bank.
After investigation, a Charge Sheet was filed on 21.12.2001 against the accused before the Special Judge, Chennai. Sh. M. Gopalakrishnan, then Chairman & MD, Indian Bank; Sh. A. V. Shanmugasundaram, then DGM/Zonel Manager, Indian Bank, Chennai and Sh. A. Ravi Shankar Prasad, then MD of a private company expired and the charges were abated.
The Trial Court found the said accused guilty and convicted them.
Ministry of Education
Swachchta pledge administered in Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
Representatives of approximately 170 HEIs, UGC and AICTE sensitized on various aspects of ‘Swachchta Hi Sewa’ campaign
Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Shri K Sanjay Murthy, under the ‘Swachchta Hi Sewa’  campaign, administered the Swachchta Pledge to the officers and staff of the Department of Higher Education.
He also encouraged everyone to actively participate in the ongoing campaign and promote the ‘Swachchta Hi Sewa’ message among others.
Shri K Sanjay Murthy also held a meeting with Vice Chancellors/Directors of the centrally funded HEIs to sensitize them about the ongoing Special Campaign 3.0, the SHS campaign, and about mainstreaming of ‘Mission LiFE’.
During the meeting, he requested the HEIs to participate in the campaign by mobilizing students, faculty, and staff to support initiatives such as zero waste campaign, plastic-free campuses, visiting nearby waste processing plants, propagating SHS messages like the adoption of neighbourhood for Shramdaan and promote the principle of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in all aspects of life. He also encouraged the HEIs to imbibe the principles of ‘Mission LiFE’ in their institutions as outlined in the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration.
Participants of approximately 170 HEIs, UGC and AICTE joined the meeting virtually.
Ministry of Culture
IIT Bombay organises Yuva Sangam programme ; 45 students from Punjab to visit Mumbai
Mumbai, 5 May 2023
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay  will for the first time,welcome 45 youth from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, Punjab under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat  ‘Yuva Sangam’ campaign. The delegates will arrive in Mumbai on Sunday, 7th May and will reside in IIT Bombay campus during May 7-12, 2023. Striking a gender balance this batch includes 22 girls and 23 boys . Age group is between 18 to 30 years.
The Governor of Maharashtra Sh. Ramesh Bais will address the delegates during an interaction session at Raj Bhavan , 9th May Tuesday. Besides, these students will also visit Bombay Stock Exchange, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Gateway of India, Vidhan Sabha, Kanheri Caves and other places of interest during their stay at Mumbai . The students will also explore the Campus of IIT Bombay.
The Yuva Sangam programme, launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, aims at strengthening people-to-people connect and build empathy among youth across the nation. It envisages participation of 1000 youngsters from 23 States & UTs of India. Maharashtra has been paired with Punjab as part of this initiative.. 35 youth from Maharashtra and 10 from Dadra-Nagar Haveli, Daman-Diu will travel to NIT Jalandhar during May 12-19, 2023.
The exposure tour will provide an immersive, multidimensional experience under five broad areas: Paryatan , Parampara , Pragati , Prodyogik  and Paraspar Sampark .
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Promoting Cultivation of Kala Namak Paddy
Kala Namak rice is grown in the tarai area of Siddharth Nagar and ten neighboring districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is a scented rice variety which is generally offered better price as compared to other rice varieties to the farmers. The Government of Uttar Pradesh is promoting Kala Namak rice under One District One Product  and has sanctioned a project of Rs. 12.00 crore for promotion of Kala Namak rice.
The Government of India, through Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority , has taken various initiatives to promote Kala Namak rice viz; capacity building programme for farmers and stakeholders, agri-export farming, organizing ‘Kala Namak Mahotsav’, coordination with Farmer Producers Organizations , exporters and farmers. Indian Council of Agricultural Research  and its research Institutes namely; Indian Institute of Rice Research , Hyderabad, National Rice Research Institute , Cuttack and Indian Agricultural Research Institute , New Delhi are conducting Research &Development in collaboration with Government of Uttar Pradesh on Kala Namak rice.
The Government is implementing National Food Security Mission -Rice in 193 districts of 24 States and Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The 21 districts of Uttar Pradesh are covered under NFSM-Rice programme for enhancing production of paddy. Under NFSM, assistance is given, through state governments, to farmers for interventions like cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, demonstrations on cropping system, distribution of seeds of High Yielding Varieties /hybrids, improved farm machineries/tools, integrated nutrient and pest management techniques, processing & post-harvest equipments, cropping system based trainings to the farmers etc. The State Governments can also promote cultivation of Kala Namak rice under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana –Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture & Allied sector Rejuvenation  with the approval of the State Level Sanctioning Committee  constituted under the chairmanship of the chief secretary of the State.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Election Commission
Delimitation Commission to visit Jammu & Kashmir
Today, Delimitation Commission under the Chairpersonship of Justice  Mrs. Ranjana Prakash Desai, in the presence of Shri Sushil Chandra, Chief Election Commissioner has decided to visit the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir from 6th July, 2021  to 9th July, 2021 . During this period, the Commission will interact with political parties, public representatives and Union Territory administration officials including District Election Officers/ Deputy Commissioners of 20 districts of the Union Territory to gather first hand information and input concerning the on-going process of delimitation as mandated under the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.
The Delimitation Commission was constituted in March 2020 and its term was extended by another year in March 2021 in view of the on-going pandemic. Third Member of the Commission is the State Election Commissioner of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The Commission also has five Associate Members nominated by the Speaker, Lok Sabha. The Commission already had series of meetings related to data/ map of the Districts/ Constituencies related to census 2011. Earlier, it invited all Associate Members for interaction, which were participated by two of the Associate Members. A number of representations has also been received on various aspects concerning delimitation from civil societies and members of public from the Union Territory. The Commission has already taken note of all such suggestions and directed that these may be deliberated further in the context of ground realities concerning delimitation.
The Commission expects that all stakeholders will cooperate in this endeavour and will provide valuable suggestions so that the task of delimitation is completed timely.
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Ministry of Home Affairs
NDMA Guidelines on Lockdown
In terms of Section 6   of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 , National Disaster Management Authority , on being satisfied that the country is threatened by the spread of COVID – 19 pandemic, has been directing Union Home Secretary, being the Chairperson of the National Executive Committee , to take measures and to issue necessary guidelines so as to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Accordingly, NEC has been issuing guidelines about the Lockdown and Unlock phases in the country from time to time.
By imposing country-wide Lockdown, India successfully blunted the aggressive spread of COVID-19. The period of Lockdown helped the nation create much required additional health infrastructure. During this time, dedicated isolation beds recorded an increase of 22 times and dedicated ICU beds above 14 times to what existed in March 2020. Similarly, laboratory capacity for testing COVID-19 was increased nearly 10 times during this time. Whereas there was no indigenous manufacturing of Personal Protective Equipments , with the requisite standards, at that point in time, the country is now self-sufficient and in a position to export the same. Similarly, the limited indigenous manufacturing capacity available for masks, ventilators, etc, at the time of Lockdown, was also enhanced to attain self-reliance in this regard. During this period, requirement of various cadres of personnel and volunteers across sectors and departments for COVID-19 related works and maintenance of other essential medical services was worked out, and trained through resources made available on the website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and iGOT, an online platform . It has been estimated that the decision of Lockdown, by slowing down the spread of pandemic in India, has prevented 14–29 lakh cases and 37–78 thousand deaths.
Government of India has taken a series of comprehensive actions to prevent, control and mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Hon’ble Prime Minister, a High level Group of Ministers , Cabinet Secretary, Committee of Secretaries and senior officers in the Ministry of Home Affairs, NDMA, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other Ministries/Departments concerned continue to monitor public health response to COVID-19 in the country.
States are free to take steps for restricting the disease in their respective States subject to compliance with the guidelines issued by the National Executive Committee as per recommendations of the NDMA.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to question in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Minority Affairs
Country's first "Amrit Sarovar" to be inaugurated by Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti Minister Shri Swatantra Dev Singh at Patwai, Rampur, tomorrow.
The "Amrit Sarovar" has been constructed under the inspiration of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guidance of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath: Shri Naqvi.
The country's first "Amrit Sarovar" will be inaugurated by the Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti Minister Shri Swatantra Dev Singh at Patwai, Rampur on May 13, 2022.
Shri Naqvi said in New Delhi today that this splendid "Amrit Sarovar" has been constructed under the inspiration of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guidance of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath.
He said that participation and cooperation of the common people, villagers and promptness of Gram Panchayat and the District Administration has played an important role in opening of this grand "Amrit Sarovar" in a very short time.
The Minister said that in "Mann Ki Baat" programme last month, the Prime Minister had mentioned about this "Amrit Sarovar" in Patwai, Rampur.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in "Mann Ki Baat" had said, “I like to learn that after taking the resolve of Amrit Sarovar, work has started on it at many places at a rapid pace. I have come to know about Gram Panchayat Patwai of Rampur in UP. There was a pond on the land of the Gram Sabha, but it was full of filth and heaps of garbage. With a lot of hard work, with the help of local people, with the help of local school children, that dirty pond has been transformed in the last few weeks. Now, many arrangements have been made on the banks of that lake like retaining wall, boundary wall, food court, fountains and lighting. I congratulate the Patwai Gram Panchayat of Rampur, the people of the village, the children there for this effort.”
Shri Naqvi stated that this "Amrit Sarovar" of Patwai will not only help in protecting the environment and conserving water, it will also be an attraction for the people of nearby areas. Along with various entertainment facilities, boating is also available in this "Amrit Sarovar".
Uttar Pradesh Minister of State Shri Baldev Singh Aulakh, Rampur Zila Panchayat Chairman Shri Khayaliram Lodhi, Milak MLA Smt. Rajbala, Commissioner Moradabad Shri Anjaneya Kumar Singh, District Magistrate Rampur Shri Ravindra Kumar Mandar, Chief Development Officer Smt. Gazal Bharadwaj and other dignitaries will be present on the occasion.